THE MAN accused of killing or seriously injuring cats will appear in court tomorrow.

Steve Bouquet, 52, is accused of 16 counts of criminal damage, relating to felines in the North Laine, Prestonville, and Round Hill areas of Brighton.

The alleged incidents took place between 2018 and June last year.

Nine of the cats are understood to have died from being attacked, and Bouquet faces charges of “destroying” property, along with eight counts of damaging property.

He is also charged with possessing a bladed article, namely a Weatherman knife, in public, and will face the 17 charges before Brighton Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

Among the alleged incidents there were three cats in Crown Gardens, three in Rugby Road, two in Trafalgar Terrace, and two in Ditchling Rise.

Police and the Crown Prosecution Service announced Bouquet, of Rose Hill Terrace, Brighton, was charged before Christmas.

CPS district Crown Prosecutor Sally Lakin said: “The allegations relate to incidents which took place between October 2018 and June 2019.

“This is a complex case and this decision was made following a careful review of all of the evidence presented to us. Criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and he has a right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

The charges in full are:

- May 31, 2019, criminal damage to property at Crown Gardens, Brighton, without lawful excuse, destroyed property, namely a cat named Hendrix belonging to Stewart Montgomery, valued at £1,663.

- October 14, 2018, criminal damage to property at Trafalgar Terrace, Brighton, without lawful excuse, damaged property, namely a cat called Alistair belonging to Stewart Cruse, valued at £2,421.

- October 2 2018, criminal damage to property at Crown Gardens, Brighton, damaged property, namely a cat named Wheatley belonging to Andrea Williams, value unknown.

- October 31, 2018, criminal damage at Stafford Road, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, damaged property, namely a cat called Rigby belonging to Penny Vessey, valued at £915.

- November 18, 2018, criminal damage at Ditchling Rise, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, damaged property, namely a cat called Samson belonging to Seanin Mouland, valued at £7,500.

- October 11, 2018, criminal damage at Crown Gardens, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, destroyed property, namely a cat called Hannah belonging to Marianna Penturo, valued at £150.

- February 4, 2019, criminal damage at North Gardens, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, destroyed property, namely a cat called Alan belonging to Katerine Mattock, valued at £135.

- Between February 12 and 13, 2018, criminal damage at Rugby Road, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, damaged property, namely a cat called Jasper belonging to David Perry, valued at £2,140.

- March 18, 2019, criminal damage at Shaftesbury Road, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, destroyed property, namely a cat called Nancy belonging to Jeff Carter, valued at £3,214.

- March 27, 2019, criminal damage at Ditchling Rise, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, destroyed property, namely a cat called Gizmo belonging to Emma O’Sullivan, valued at £384.

- May 2, 2019, criminal damage at Rugby Road, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, destroyed property, namely a cat called Kyo belonging to Paul Tofts, value unknown.

- May 5, 2019, criminal damage at Rugby Road, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, destroyed property, namely a cat called Ollie belonging to Sarah McKenzie , valued at £384.

- June 1, 2019, criminal damage at Port Hall Place, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, destroyed property, namely a cat called Cosmo belonging to Lucy Kenward, valued at £5,056.

- June 1, 2019, criminal damage at Coventry Street, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, damaged property, namely a cat called Maggie belonging to Claire Smith, valued at £4,862.

- November 5, 2018, criminal damage at Trafalgar Terrace, Brighton, damaged property, without lawful excuse, damaged property, namely a cat called Gideon belonging to Tina Randall, valued at £1,623.